Abraxas no Matsuri, a film by Director Naoki Kato (w/ Trailer)

Abraxas no Mitsuri (or, Abraxas Festival) is the story of a Zen monk who finds himself torn between the spiritual and secular life. The monk Jonen, played by comedian Suneo Hair, is a one-time punk rock musician turned Buddhist monk with a wife and five-year old son. Based on the novel by Akutagawa award-winning zen monk Genyu Sokyu, the character of Jonen becomes a monk following in the footsteps of his father—a tradition not unfamiliar to Japanese Zen, where temples are often passed down in families from generation to generation. During a career day speech given at a local high school, Jonen suffers a breakdown as he realizes that music is his passion; the episode sends him in to a deep depression. Sympathetic to his crisis, the chief monk encourages Jonen to do a live show. As the show nears, Jonen is faced with several obstacles (including potential alienation from his family).

This film explores themes of familial and cultural expectations and how they fit in with one’s own personal calling. It is currently playing in Japanese theaters and will be a contender in the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. I’ll be looking forward to it!

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